Adams and Smith Named AP All-America Honorable Mention
Mar 31, 2010 | Women's Basketball
March 31, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M women's basketball players Tanisha Smith were recently named All-America honorable mention selections by The Associated Press.
Both led the Aggies (26-8) to their second-ever Big 12 Conference postseason title, a season-best No. 5 ranking in the national polls and the program's fifth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and third consecutive No. 2 seed.
Adams, a 6-foot-1 junior combination forward/center, was honored as Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year as well as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship in her hometown of Kansas City, Mo. She is also a finalist for the prestigious 10-member State Farm Kodak All-America Team. The All-Big 12 Second Team selection averaged a team-leading 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Adams became only the second A&M player in school history and 10th all-time player in league history to register a triple-double with a career-high 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 blocked shots against Texas Tech on Jan. 23 earning her a nod as Big 12 Player of the Week. She led the team in scoring on 17 occasions off the bench this season including three double-double performances and seven 20-point outings.
Smith, a six-foot combination guard/forward from Kansas City, was tabbed an All-Big 12 First Team selection averaging 15.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. She was also selected to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2009 during her junior campaign. Smith garnered Big 12 Player of the Week honors on Dec. 7 after leading the Aggies to a 3-0 week and being named the Colliers International Classic tournament MVP at host Cal. Smith registered five career double-doubles and six 20-point games of the season including a career-high 30 versus Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 2, which marked the most points ever scored by an Aggie in the Gary Blair Era. She was a regional finalist for the State Farm All-America Team.
Adams and Smith are one of only six all-time A&M players on eight occasions to receive All-America honors by the AP. They are joined by former standouts Lisa Branch (1993-96), A'Quonesia Franklin (2005-08), Takia Starks (2006-09) and Danielle Gant (2006-09). Starks and Franklin are the only two-time selections of the elite group.
